The Portland daily press., 1887-06-11
A FATHERS SHOT.
BY A. T. woRDEN.
ALBANY Evening Journal

One of the smallest battles of the war Of
the rebellion without doubt was attended by
the most important results, and was made
conspicuous by as many romantic features
as any of the larger combats. The battle of
Mill Springs, or Logan's crossroads, was as
decisive in its results as to the setting free
OF the Union sentiment in Kentucky and
Tennessee as was Donelson or Shiloh. Mill
Springs, forming the right wing of the SPLEEN
did line of defense arrayed by the brilliant
Gen. A. S. Johnston, was as important to
the general cause as the better equipped and
defended Forts Henry and Donelson, though
mismanaged by the drunken and incompe-
tent Crittenden to the sorrow of the capable
and much-mourned Zollieoffer, his inferior
In command. No doubt the loss of Zollicof-
fer, who fell in this battle, was as great to
rebel sympathizers in Tennessee as was that
OF the brilliant A. s. Johnston. But aside
from the larger interests centered in the Ma
tional or the Confederate cause, there were
to be considered the strange complications of
fratricidal struggle. AT Mills Springs
Tennesseans faced Tennesseans, Kentucki-
ans faced Kentuckians, and no one who has
participated in such struggle can forget
the feeling of rancor evinced there. Truly,
Kentucky was for a time the "dark and
bloody ground" The battle was fought on
Sunday, January 10th, 1862, and it is to one
tragic scene Of that contest l would draw the
attention of the reader. A scene so strange.
so marvellous, that when recall its denoue-
ment it seems like trick of a personified
fate. was subordinate officer in Co. A of
the Minnesota volunteers, infantry, and we
broke camp at Lebanon, Kentucky, on New
Years day of g. The march toward Som
erset was an easy one and enlivened with
few incidents. The mud made travelling
heavy, and Thomas, then brigadier, was
careful, methodical commander, and trains
were well kept togethe and we did not reach
Logan's crossroads until January II.
No one then believed that this little open
ing in the forest would become historic
ground where Thomas should become i'm
mortal and Zollicoffer die. Three or four
log houses and one frame building comprised
all the evidences of settlement in sight 1t
was good strategic point only in being
crossroads, where like concentric rays all
the important roads of that sparsely settled
country came together. Down one road nine
miles distant was the fortified cam, Mill
Springs. Down another eight miles was
Somerset, village of some Importance on
the Cumberland. Here also was the James
ton road and several by-roads. The condi-
tion of the mud was such that no movement
Of Importance could be commenced against
us without using some Of these roads. To
be sure there were, as look back at it now,
some evidences of nearness to a contest.
Woolford's cavalry, body of Kentucky
horse, was unusually active. They were
long awkward riders with swinging legs
covered with mud, and their long, unkempt
hair generally in their eyes, but wicked as
fighters, and with staying qualities in
fight as long as their own legs, which is say
ing good deal. In and out of camp to Gen.
Thomas's headquarters these muddy GEN.
taurs went, and with more experience we
should have known that something of i'm
portance was imminent. With plenty of
time to look back now at first causes we
realize that the success of Thomas may be
attributed to the fact that he always knew
what his enemy was doing. January IS was
cold, drizzly, miserable day, and 1 was
sent out on the jamestown road with de-
tail of 10 men to guard crossing of Fishing
creek, now bank high with the incessant
rain. Our vidette was behind large tree,
on the bank of the stream, and our reserve
took up its quarters in an open tobacco
house in the rear, about 80 rods. The to-
bacco shed was part of the out-buildings,
connected to the best house near Logan's
crossroads. In fact it was the only frame
structure in sight desired to allow the
men to build fire on the ground in the
shed, and so wished the permission of its
owner at the house. visited him, and on
presenting my petition he told me to build
the fire aud there would be no danger in
such wet time. Soon the reserve guard
had roaring fire on the ground, and blank
cts were spread and pipes lighted, while
eager hands prepared coffee and bacon for
supper. AS night came down we heard
step at the door, and the old man of the
house came in. He was the typical Ken
tuckian, and still robust, though he must
have been at least 70 years of age. AS re-
call his picture after quarter of a century,
see tall, straight form, white hair,
wrinkled face, with that curious sneering
smile upon it which comes of years of dom
ination and defiance, and yet savors of cour-
tesy.
"Good evenin' gentlemen" with long
holding of the accent on the men.
Good evening"" all responded, and one of
the boys pushed over his knapsack for the
old man to sit oh.
fright smart O. rain we alls is gittin' fur
the time o. year," and he smiled courteous
ly around the circle.
One of the men offeredhim bag of suffers
tobacco and pipe, and the old man said
sententiously, "Store tobarker," and filled
the pipe. AS he puffed at it dreamily he
asked:
You uns ever heered of old Peyton Bax-
ter9 Down along the branch and over to
Somerset. and probly clear down to Camp
belltown, they knows old Peyton.''
/ did not wish to offend, and so nodded
my head affirmatively:
That's my name. I'm old Peyton Baxter
NV Logan's crossroads" and he chuckled to
himself The boys became interested and
listened attentively. "You uns ever hear
what old Peyton's politics was? Probly
not. Well old Peyton he war a Whig. A
Harry Cl.y man and fur the Union every
time. Harry Clay old line Union Whig,
and want every one Nv we to shake hands,"
Old Peyton Baxter's levee was well attend
ed, for every Minnesotian got up and shook |
his hard hand and then took his seat and
studied the old face again. "They was talk
NV comm down on old Peyton and burnin'
his buildins and confiscatn' his tobarker un
such, by them doggoned rebels under Buck
ner, but they didn't do it, and why, dye
'spose" We admitted that we did not |
know why Because old Peyton was a |
right peert shot and they knowed it." Here |
he chuckled in dry way which had no hui |
NOR in it. "Prehaps," said he courteously, |
you would object to an old man lookin' over
your kind of guns" and he pointed to the
stacked Harper's Ferry rifles in the corner.
L got up and drew the cartridge from my
rifle and handed it to him. With deft
hand he threw it to his shoulder, weighed it
in his hands, and then with look of disgust
handed it back.
"Too coarse" said he; ''too much like a
fowling piece. You uns wouldn't care If 1